Is your idea of a perfect ‘Big Fat Wedding’,well, NOT a Big Fat one? You are someone who would rather have a small wedding and a seriously awesome vacation. Or just someone, who doesn’t like the thought of a lavish spend on the event. But you would still want your big day to shimmer and stand out, won’t you!

It might seem like a challenge to pull off an intimate, budget wedding without compromising on the aesthetics. With smart planning, however, it is quite the opposite. Here are some ideas for a small (read, stunning) wedding which will make it a gorgeous affair.

1. Plan, Plan and Plan

Planning for a small wedding is perhaps equally (if not more) important than planning for a big one. Start at least six months in advance to ensure you get the best deals on the venue, catch any possible sale that comes your way and book all your services in time. It will also greatly help you to utilize all resources optimally.

2. Trim the Guest List

An intimate affair would also mean that you would want to rule out unfamiliar faces at your wedding. Choose your guest list wisely and restrict it to close relatives and friends. The wedding will feel more like a closed party than anything else.

Yass!

3. Wiser the Venue, Better the Wedding

We are assuming that you don’t have a large backyard or a courtyard for the festivities (you are super sorted, if that is the case). Choose a suburban off-beat venue or identify a non-metro town and take the festivities there. Places like Dehradun, Jaipur, Khajuraho could be on your prospective list.

Contrary to what many believe, you may actually end up saving a lot, with a simple destination wedding.

A post shared by Weddings by Knotty Days! (@knottydays) on Jan 29, 2018 at 10:23pm PST

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4. Ditch the DJ

It might be hard to imagine the wedding festivities without the traditional DJ. But ditching one, might do you good. Hire a small band or an individual singer to play the perfect music in the backdrop. Our votes are for an acoustic one.

For the crazy dance nights, get your very own wedding mix to play on your special day (And maybe a friend who would love to double up as a DJ).

5. Get Creative With Your Wedding Outfit

We won’t be surprised if the price of designer wedding outfits has given you nightmares. Don’t get disheartened if those are way out of your budget. Get creative and smart with your outfit choice. Choose your look, pick up your fabrics yourself from a wholesale fabric market and find a suitable boutique to create your ultimate outfit.

Another great idea is to ransack your mother’s closet and find an old heavy embroidered saree (or for that matter, ask her if you can use her wedding saree) and re-create it into a beautiful wedding outfit for yourself.

Check out how celebrated wedding planner Devika Narain wore her mom’s lehenga for her wedding.

A post shared by Devika Narain (@naraindevika) on Dec 1, 2017 at 11:24pm PST

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6. Orchids and Roses Aren’t Always the Prettiest

Replace the dreamy flower decor with an alternate, equally beautiful option. Marigold and Jasmine decor at wedding is the ‘in’ thing and comes at half the price of orchid or rose decorations. It will also go well with your personality (we hear ‘cool’). Using flowy fabrics in beautiful colours to decorate the venue is another option.

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7. Brunch is the new cravate noire

Forget Black ties. Brunch weddings are the cool new thing. Plus, they can be super cozy and intimate. Keep the ceremony in the morning, followed by a select menu brunch for the guests.

You could get creative with the catering and give it to a food truck rather than a traditional caterer. Also, you could replace the wedding cake, with a cheese or a pizza cake. Get quirky, because WHY NOT!

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8. Local Rules

With wedding planning becoming a popular profession, there are a slew of new entrants – young, excited wedding planners in every town, even beyond the metros. No need to have a fancy entourage along with you for managing your wedding.  Carefully chose a local event manager who is in line with your aesthetic sense, can use cheaper (and prettier) decor options and isn’t afraid to experiment. You will be surprised, trust us!

So, go ahead, jazz up the cozy wedding of your dreams!

A post shared by Short Stories (@shortstories.events) on Dec 26, 2016 at 8:18am PST

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So, go ahead, jazz up the cozy wedding of your dreams!

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